While Francis Ford Coppola is, and always will be associated with his greatest work namely The Godfather trilogy, the prolific director was instrumental in kickstarting the careers of many A-list celebrities today. The director cast a bunch of young actors for his 1983 film The Outsiders which was based on the 1967 novel of the same name by S.E Hinton.
The film went on to gain critical acclaim and cult status over the years. More significantly, it catapulted the young actors in the film to superstardom. These actors were Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, Diane Lane, and Rob Lowe among many others. In the 40th year of the film’s release, the Oscar-winning director revealed his off-beat audition process that resulted in the casting of these actors.
Francis Ford Coppola’s Audition For The Outsiders Is Pure Genius
40 years ago, Francis Ford Coppola made The Outsiders which starred a young bunch of future superstars including Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe, Matt Dillon, and Patrick Swayze among others. The narrative adapted from a novel, was a coming-of-age crime drama about rival teen gangs.
This cult classic was instrumental in kickstarting the careers of Cruise and other actors in Hollywood. The Godfather director recently went down memory lane on the occasion of the film’s 40th year to show audiences a priceless video of the actual audition process that he conducted with his actors.
In the clip that was uploaded on Coppola’s Instagram account, a young Tom Cruise and other stars are seen going through a unique process that the genius director invented to ensure that he got the best man for each role. In the process, the filmmaker made each actor read every role in front of each other for a very specific reason that worked wonders for the film.
“It was interesting because each of them was watching their competition, so while it could’ve been a volatile situation, it turned into a very positive one. There emerged the natural respect and sense of colleagueship among them. The result worked beautifully and reminded me of my days as a camp counselor.”
Coppola’s move, though a risky one, could only have been pulled off by someone of his caliber. The Outsiders is still a film that is recommended as a cult classic and one that superstars like Tom Cruise hold dear to his heart.
How Francis Ford Coppola Saved His Job With This Scene in The Godfather
It is an indisputable fact that Francis Ford Coppola is a master in the world of cinema. While the director has set the bar extremely high in Hollywood, there was a time when his reputation was questioned while making The Godfather. The Oscar winner though, proved his worth with his impeccable mastery over his craft.
In an iconic scene in The Godfather, Michael Corleone played by Al Pacino shoots down corrupt police officer Mark McCluskey and drug dealer Virgil Sollozzo in cold blood at a busy New York restaurant. This scene masterfully orchestrated by Coppola, is memorable not just for the ruthless murder, but also for the subtext that reveals the ‘awakening’ of Michael Corleone as the fitting heir to his father’s legacy.
The terror of the scene was also heightened by the tense silence that preceded the event along with the lack of background score which the director incorporated to perfection. Incidentally, this arresting segment in the film was the saving grace for Coppola to retain his job in the project.
Following his appointment as director, Paramount Pictures began to express their concerns about his vision for the film. While the production house was looking for an extravagant gangster drama with all guns blazing, The Rainmaker director’s verbose script and nuanced approach to violence left the bankrollers wondering if a colossal flop was on the way.
According to Far Out Magazine, the doubts about Coppola’s capability to deliver almost led to him being fired from the project. But the veteran mitigated all fears with the iconic Michael Corleone scene that floored the producers and audience. The rest as they say, is history.
The Outsiders can be streamed on Paramount TV and is available for rent on Apple TV.
